BOW MAKING APPARATUS

Abstract: A bow making apparatus (10) for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow. The bow making apparatus (10) includes a base member (12) defining an upper work surface (14) for supporting bow fabricating material (28) during the bow making operation. The apparatus (10) also includes a first and second retainer members (22, 24) extending upwardly from the upper work surface (14) of the base member (12) for releasably receiving and maintaining the position of gathered sections of bow fabricating material (28).

Description: Description Bow Making Apparatus Technical Field This invention relates a bow making apparatus for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow. In this particular invention the apparatus includes a pair of selectively spaced retainer members disposed on the upper work surface of a base member. Background Art Decorative bow making has long been recognized as an art, and substantial skill is generally required to manually tie well proportioned decorative bows. Of course, automation of the bow making industry has given rise to complex machinery for producing decorative bows, but such machinery is expensive and takes originality, creativity and, indeed, enjoyment, out of the bow making process. Attempts have been made to devise bow making devices that are inexpensive, but they too tend to limit the bow maker's creativity by dictating the resulting bow configuration. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 696,361; 1,010,155; 1,598,310; 2,077,370; 2,542,222; 2,763,080; 4,454,968; and 4,629,100. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bow making apparatus for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow. It is another object of the present invention to provide a bow making apparatus which assists in the tying of a decorative bow, but does not stifle originality or creativity in the bow making operation. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bow making apparatus which is simple to use and inexpensive. Disclosure of the Invention Other objects and advantages will be accomplished by the present invention which provides a bow making apparatus for receiving - and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow. The bow making apparatus includes a base member defined an upper work surface for supporting bow fabricating material during the bow making operation. The apparatus also includes first and second retainer members extending upwardly from the upper work surface of the base member, between which gathered sections of bow fabricating material are received and maintained. In one embodiment the first and second retainer members are selectively spaced so as to define a retaining gap therebetween for releasably receiving and maintaining the position of gathered sections of the bow fabricating material. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus the upper work surface of the base member is provided with measuring indicia to facilitate the making of bows having preselected dimensions. Brief Description of the Drawings The above mentioned features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation view of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a top plan view of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates an end view of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates an end view of an alternate embodiment of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Figure 7 illustrates an end view of a further alternate embodiment of a bow making apparatus of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention A bow making apparatus incorporating various features of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in the Figures. As will be discussed below, the apparatus 10 provides a work surface for fabricating a decorative bow and a means for retaining the ribbon or other material being used to fabricate the bow during the fabricating process. The apparatus 10 includes a base member 12 having a substantially planar upper work surface 14, and a lower surface 16 for supporting the apparatus 10 on a table or other support surface. In the preferred illustrated embodiment the base member 12 defines an elongated rectangular configuration. However, it will be recognized that the base member 12 can assume other geometric configuration. The base member 12 has first and second opposite ends 18 and 20, respectively. Mounted between the opposite ends 18 and 20 are a pair of retainer members 22 and 24. In the preferred embodiment the retainer members 22 and 24 define elongated rods having substantially circular cross-sections, and extend upwardly from the upper work surface 14. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1 the retainer members 22 and 24 are selectively spaced so as to define a retaining gap 26 therebetween for releasably receiving the ribbon or other bow fabricating material being used. However, in Figure 7 an alternate embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated at 10 11 wherein the retainer members 22 11 and 24 11 are positioned such that no gap 26 is defined therebetween. In this regard, where a bow is being fabricated of thin ribbon or other thin bow fabricating material the abutting retainer members 22 11 and 24 11 serve to more securely hold the bow fabricating material. As illustrated in Figure 1, the retainer members 22 and 24 engage the bow fabricating material 28 at the point at which the material is gathered, i.e. the point at which bow is to. be bound together with a wire or other securing means. Therefore, the spacing of the retainer members 22 and 24 is such that the gathered bow fabricating material 28 is securely, yet releasably held between the retainer members 22 and 24 as the bow making operation proceeds. More specifically, Figure 1 illustrates one possible bow making operation which can be performed utilizing the apparatus 10 and illustrates the function of the retainer members 22 and 24 and the retaining gap 26. In accordance with the illustrated example, a first end 30 of a length of fabricating material 28 is placed on the work surface 14 between the retainer members 22, 24 and, for example, the second end 20 of the base member 12. At a preselected point along its length the fabricating material is gathered and inserted between the retainer members 22 and 24 as illustrated in Figure 1 such that gathered disposition of the material 28 is maintained by the retainer members 22 and 24. Between the retainer members 22, 24 and the first end 18, and at a preselected point along the length of fabricating material 28, a first loop 32 is formed and the length of fabricating material is again gathered and passed between the retainer members 22 and 24 at a preselected point along its length such that the retainer members maintain the gathered disposition of the fabricating material 28 and, as a result, maintain the disposition of the first loop 32. A second loop 34 is then formed between the retainer members 22, 24 and the second end 20 and the fabricating material 28 is again gathered and passed between the retainer members 22 and 24. This process is repeated until the desired number of loops is formed on either side of the retainer members 22 and 24, with the retainer members 22 and 24 serving to maintain the gathered disposition of the fabricating material. The gathered portions of the fabricating material can then be removed from between the retainer members 22 and 24 for binding or the gathered portions can be bound in place. As best illustrated in Figure 4, in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 the upper work surface 14 is provided with measurement indicia which facilitates the fabrication of uniformly proportioned bows of preselected size. For example, in the illustrated embodiment a center line 36 is provided which is aligned with the lower end of the gap 26. Further, between the center line 36 and the first and second ends 18 and 20 the work surface 14 is ruled with loop measuring lines 38 which indicate selected distances from the center line 36. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the loop measuring lines 38 on either side of the center line 36 are positioned at 3", 4", 5", 6", 7" and 8" from the center line 38, and numeric indicia are provided to facilitate the use of the ruled surface. It will be appreciated that the indicia provided on the work surface 14 facilitates the making of bows with uniform proportions and/or bows having loops of selected lengths. It will also be appreciated that the units of measure depicted on the work surface can be metric or based upon some other measurement system. Referring now to Figure 5, it will be noted that in one preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 the retainer members 22 and 24 are disposed at a preselected angles such that the retaining gap 26 narrows toward the distal ends 40 of the retainer members. In this regard, as bow fabricating material is received between the retainer members 22 and 24 there is a tendency for the retainer members 22 and 24 to bend outwardly, and the angling of the retainer members helps compensate for this tendency and insures that the fabricating material is firmly maintained between the retainer members 22 and 24. Typically, the inward angle of each of the retainer members 22 and 24 is between 1° and 5°, but other angles may be suitable. However, as illustrated in Figure 6, where an alternate embodiment of the apparatus is referenced at 10 1 , the retainer members 22 1 and 24 1 can be disposed perpendicular to the work surface 14 1 and parallel to one another if desired. In light of the above it will be recognized that the present invention provides a bow making apparatus having great advantages over the prior art. The apparatus 10 obviates the need for the bow maker to grasp and maintain the successive gathered portions of the bow during the formation of a plurality of loops. Further, it facilitates the making of bows with uniform proportions and having loops of preselected sizes. However, while a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to such disclosure, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: I Claim; 1. A bow making apparatus for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow, such decorative bow defining gathered sections of bow fabricating material and looped portions of bow fabricating material, said apparatus comprising: a base member defining an upper work surface for supporting the bow fabricating material; and at least a first and second retainer member extending upwardly from said upper work surface of said base member for releasably receiving and maintaining the gathered sections of bow fabricating material therebetween. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said first and second retainer members define elongated rods having a substantially circular cross-section. 3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said upper work surface of said base member is provided with indicia for facilitating the make of bows having looped portions of preselected length. SUESΠTUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 4. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said indicia includes a center line disposed on said upper work surface proximate a lower end of said retaining gap. 5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein said indicia includes a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a first end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line, and a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a second end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line. 6. A bow making apparatus for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow, such decorative bow defining gathered sections of bow fabricating material and looped portions of bow fabricating material, said apparatus comprising: a base member defining an upper work surface for supporting the bow fabricating material; and at least a first and second retainer member extending upwardly from said upper work surface of said base member, said first and second retainer members being selectively spaced so as to define a retaining gap therebetween for releasably receiving and maintaining the gathered sections of bow fabricating material. 7. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said first and second retainer members define elongated rods having a substantially circular cross-section. 8. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said first and second retainer members define elongated rods having distal ends, and wherein said first and second retainer members are disposed at preselected angles such that said retaining gap narrows toward said distal ends of said first and second retainer members. 9. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said upper work surface of said base member is provided with indicia for facilitating the make of bows having looped portions of preselected length. 10. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said indicia includes a center line disposed on said upper work surface proximate a lower end of said retaining gap. 11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein said indicia includes a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a first end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line, and a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a second end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line. 12. A bow making apparatus for receiving and maintaining the disposition of bow fabricating material during the making of a decorative bow, such decorative bow defining gathered sections of bow fabricating material and looped portions of bow fabricating material, said apparatus comprising: a base member defining first and second ends and an upper work surface for supporting the bow fabricating material; and at least a first and second retainer member extending upwardly from said upper work surface of said base member, said first and second retainer members being selectively spaced so as to define a retaining gap therebetween for releasably receiving and maintaining the gathered sections of bow fabricating material, said first and second retainer members defining elongated rods having substantially circular cross-sections and defining distal ends, said first and second retainer members being disposed on said upper work surface at preselected angles such that said retaining gap narrows toward said distal ends of said first and second retainer members. 13. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said upper work surface of said base member is provided with indicia for facilitating the make of bows having looped portions of preselected length. 14. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein said indicia includes a center line disposed on said upper work surface proximate a lower end of said retaining gap. 15. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein said indicia includes a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a first end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line, and a plurality of loop measuring lines disposed between said center line and a second • end of said base member at preselected distances from said center line.

Inventors: CAVENDER DEBORAH LEA, SLATER TINA LUCILLE BENTON, CAVENDER, DEBORAH, LEA, SLATER, TINA, LUCILLE, BENTON
Applicants: CAVENDER DEBORAH LEA, SLATER TINA LUCILLE BENTON, CAVENDER, DEBORAH, LEA, SLATER, TINA, LUCILLE, BENTON
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A41H43
IPC codes: D04D7